CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 78: RONG YE ADVANCES

In the Trial Land, it’s still impossible to distinguish day from night. The red-marked and black-marked positions on the map are quite far apart. However, Gu Qingqing and the others are in no hurry; they walk and rest along the way, learning a lot about the Trial Land from the Black Flood Dragon.

It turns out this Trial Land was once a Secret Realm. An ancestor of the Rong Family obtained the inheritance from the Secret Realm and later carved out a section to serve as the Rong Family’s Trial Land, and the Cold Pond where the Black Flood Dragon resides was unfortunately included.

Three hundred years ago, an ancestor of the Rong Family had entrusted the Rong Family’s precious treasure, the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record," to the Black Flood Dragon because the family’s situation was quite precarious at that time. Worried that he might not get through the Trial Land, he handed the item over to the Black Flood Dragon.

Unexpectedly, he made it through the Trial Land, but before he could retrieve the item from the Black Flood Dragon, he was transported out. And since a person can only enter the Rong Family’s Trial Land once, he couldn’t return. Until his death, no one in the family knew that the lost "Ten Thousand Talisman Record" was actually inside the Trial Land.

Since obtaining the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record," Rong Ye always takes it out to examine during breaks on their journey, gaining new insights each time.

Having just dealt with an attack from a group of Golden Sculptures, Si Lin took out a model of the pavilion, enlarged it, and allowed everyone to rest. Rong Ye once again pulled out the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record" to study.

His talent in the Talismanic Dao is unparalleled in the Sub-immortal Realm; otherwise, he wouldn’t be such a young and leading talisman master!

As soon as he opened the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record," he immersed himself in it, soaring through the world of talismans, completely oblivious to everything around him. Gu Qingqing and the others were used to his state and naturally did not disturb him.

However, this time was different. After staying in the room for half an hour, Spiritual Energy suddenly crazily poured into his room, startling Gu Qingqing and the others.

"Is Fifth Brother going to Promote?" Gu Qingqing asked Jun Wu beside her.

To avoid disturbing Rong Ye and also to protect him, Gu Qingqing and the others came out of the pavilion. At this moment, seeing the pavilion wrapped in dense Spiritual Energy, their eyes gleamed.

"It looks like it," Jun Wu, ever patient with Gu Qingqing’s questions, nodded.

"Then isn’t Fifth Brother about to become Half-step Immortal Rank?" Gu Qingqing exclaimed joyfully, happy for Rong Ye.

"Rong Ye won’t temporarily become Half-step Immortal Rank," Yue Zhao, standing nearby, interjected.

"How come?" Gu Qingqing looked over, somewhat puzzled.

"This is the Trial Land; the Heavenly Tribulation cannot appear here. So he can only accumulate Spiritual Power, but to truly become Half-step Immortal Rank, he must wait until he can go out from here." Seeing their confusion, Yue Zhao patiently explained, also helping Gu Qingqing adjust the accessory on her head.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingqing suddenly realized.

"I almost forgot this place isn’t outside." Gu Qingqing turned around, a little disheartened.

"Didn’t expect the second among us to break through to Half-step Immortal Rank is Rong Ye?" Nan Hua, looking at the pavilion wrapped in Spiritual Energy, commented wryly while waving his fan.

Mu Chen and Yue Zhao exchanged a glance, feeling a bit helpless.

"Fifth Brother is lucky to have acquired the ’Ten Thousand Talisman Record,’ or it would take a much longer time," Gu Qingqing hurriedly added, fearing Nan Hua and the others might feel imbalanced.

"I know, Qingqing, don’t worry. I’m just joking; after so many years together, could I truly be jealous of Rong Ye?" Nan Hua lightly tapped Gu Qingqing’s head with his fan, finding her reaction amusing.

Gu Qingqing rubbed her head, glared at Nan Hua, snorted coldly, and turned her head away from him.

Upon witnessing this scene, Yue Zhao, Jun Wu, Si Lin, and Mu Chen all shot a disapproving look at Nan Hua for his action against Gu Qingqing.

Faced with their glares, Nan Hua’s smile froze momentarily. He quickly went over to coax Gu Qingqing, fearing she might truly ignore him.

Inside Rong Ye’s room, he had lost all perception of the outside world, completely immersed in the Rune World.

The runes seemed to come alive around him, twisting and forming countless combinations, some familiar to Rong Ye, others completely new. Thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind as countless combinations formed and were broken apart, repeating over and over.

Eventually, all the runes shattered, the fragments turning into tiny glimmers that poured into his body. He fell into a profound state, as though he understood much yet understood nothing, repeating incessantly.

Unseen by him, the surrounding Spiritual Energy had formed a vortex, enveloping him.

The Black Flood Dragon, originally hidden in his sleeve, had long retreated to the side, watching him with wonder.

The reason the Black Flood Dragon chose Rong Ye to form a temporary contract was because of his talent in the Talismanic Dao. Yet, it never imagined Rong Ye’s talent was this extraordinary, surpassing the Rong Family ancestor it encountered three hundred years ago.

The light in its eyes flickered, and it glanced at Rong Ye’s resolute face, a hint of determination flashing across its gaze.

...

The commotion from Rong Ye’s ascension indeed attracted many demon beasts. The first group to arrive was a swarm of Human-faced Spiders, around seven or eight of them, each with an eighth-stage cultivation. Upon seeing the Spiritual Energy near the pavilion, they rushed over as if they smelled something fishy.

Gu Qingqing and the others were well prepared, and without needing anyone else to take action, Yue Zhao alone played a tune that knocked all the Human-faced Spiders down.

The second group was more than a dozen Black Flower Leopards, each with the same eighth-stage cultivation as the Human-faced Spiders. Likewise, they were taken down by Yue Zhao alone.

The third group was a swarm of approximately a hundred Human-headed Bees. Although their cultivation was around the seventh stage and not very high, their sheer numbers were overwhelming. Besides Yue Zhao, Nan Hua joined the battle this time. The two cooperated, one playing the zither, the other waving a fan, and within the time of a single tune, they resolved the Human-headed Bees.

The fourth batch was three Three-striped Jinshe snakes, also known as White Flower Jinshe. Their backs were gray, with a black horizontal stripe on the nape, and they were named for the three radiating black lines on their head sides. These three Three-striped Jinshe snakes all had ninth-stage peak cultivation. Initially, they thought some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures had appeared, but upon discovering a human ascending, they were somewhat surprised.

Originally intending to leave, they decided to stay upon realizing the vulnerability of humans while ascending. If they could seize this opportunity to devour the human and gain human strength, they engaged in battle with Gu Qingqing and the others.

This time Yue Zhao did not step in; instead, it was Si Lin who took action.

As soon as his aura emerged, the three Three-striped Jinshe snakes wanted to retreat, but unfortunately, Si Lin would not allow it, and he soon killed them.

Perhaps due to Si Lin’s aura or the aura of the three Three-striped Jinshe snakes, no more demon beasts attacked afterward. Gu Qingqing and the others relaxed, waiting for Rong Ye to successfully advance.

...

The vortex of Spiritual Energy surrounded Rong Ye for two hours. Just as Gu Qingqing and the others were starting to worry, Rong Ye’s body in the room moved, and the surrounding Spiritual Energy instantly surged into him.

After a while, Rong Ye finally opened his eyes.

Feeling the abundant Spiritual Power within, a satisfied smile appeared on Rong Ye’s face.

He hadn’t expected that his initial entry into the Trial Land, meant to gain the Rong Family Head position, would unexpectedly grant him the family’s treasure, the "Ten Thousand Talisman Record", and help him break through to the Half-step Immortal Rank. Of course, he hadn’t yet undergone the baptism of the Heavenly Tribulation, but his cultivation was already comparable to the Half-step Immortal Rank.

Most importantly, his insights into the Talismanic Dao had deepened.

Looking at the Ten Thousand Talisman Record in his hand, Rong Ye was pleasantly surprised. He felt that the book still had much more to offer him, and the talismans recorded inside could even support him after ascension!

Seeing the chaotic room due to his breakthrough, Rong Ye’s mouth twitched. Once the Black Flood Dragon returned to him, his hands moved rapidly, forming a series of handprints. When he finished, a golden light flashed, and the once chaotic room was instantly renewed.

Nodding in satisfaction, Rong Ye got out of bed and walked out of the room.

When he arrived outside the pavilion, he saw Gu Qingqing and the others sitting not far away.

"Fifth Senior Brother, how do you feel now?" Gu Qingqing immediately stood up upon seeing Rong Ye, quickly walking over to him, asking curiously and concernedly.

"Pretty good, full of strength." Rong Ye doted on Gu Qingqing a lot. As he spoke, he patted her head.

"Not bad, Rong Ye, I didn’t expect you to enter the Half-step Immortal Rank earlier than us." Nan Hua approached, waving his fan, his tone slightly sour.

"I can’t help it; I’m just lucky," Rong Ye liked to bicker with Nan Hua, yet Nan Hua usually won, leaving him speechless. This time, finally able to turn the tables, he wasn’t about to miss the opportunity. "Third Senior Brother, don’t worry too much. With your qualifications, you’ll soon advance to the Half-step Immortal Rank as well."

Nan Hua’s face darkened, grinding his teeth. Considering their current cultivation gap, he refrained from provoking Rong Ye further, only snorting coldly and turning his head away, ignoring Rong Ye.

Seeing Nan Hua’s reaction, Rong Ye smiled smugly.

"There’s no Heavenly Tribulation inside the Trial Land now, but it’s not easy to overcome without it. You should prepare yourself." Si Lin, having experienced a Heavenly Tribulation, knew its formidable power well. Seeing Rong Ye looking so pleased, he thought about it and offered a reminder.

"Yes, I understand, First Senior Brother." Rong Ye still held great respect for Si Lin. When Si Lin spoke, his expression immediately became serious, and he earnestly responded.

"Hmm." Si Lin nodded at Rong Ye, satisfied with his attitude.